CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Charlotte women’s basketball has turned the calendar to 2014 and will begin the new year with a Noon Friday tip against UNC Wilmington in the annual Education Day contest inside Halton Arena. Local elementary and middle school students, ranging from third through eighth grades, will arrive early to take part in various sessions put on by members of the 49ers athletics department.

Sessions talking about strength & conditioning and athletic training, plus a student-athlete panel and campus tours will help the children learn different facets about a collegiate athletics program. The festivities begin around 9 a.m. and will lead into the start of warm-ups for the two teams prior to the Noon tip.

On the court, Charlotte will look to start the new year off with a win after dropping to 5-7 with Sunday’s 76-75 loss to Furman. Senior Ny Hammonds netted a career-best 25 points in the defeat, topping the 21 she tallied in last season’s road victory at UNC Wilmington.

She paces the Niners with 12.1 points per game and headlines a trio of double-figure scorers for head coach Cara Consuegra. Joining Hammonds with double-digit scoring averages are sophomore Kira Gordon and junior Hillary Sigmon at 11.5 and 10.9 points per game, respectively.

Gordon posted her first career double-double against Furman, recording 11 points and hauling in 10 rebounds, while Sigmon buried four 3-pointers for 12 points in the contest.

Redshirt junior Gabby Tyler, who is next on the scoring list at 9.6 ppg, is the top rebounder for Charlotte with 7.6 per contest. She had her first double-double of the campaign and fourth of her career with 12 points and a career-high 14 boards against the Paladins Sunday.

Sophomore Alexis Alexander’s 6.2 rebounds per game edge out the 6.1 average by Gordon to conclude the top-three glass cleaners entering the non-conference finale Friday.

The Seahawks bring a 1-12 mark into the contest, having lost their last 10 since earning their lone victory, a 65-62 triumph over Northern Kentucky Nov. 16. Head coach Adell Harris’ young squad features four freshmen among its regular starting five and has played only seven players all season.

Kelva Atkins, a preseason All-Colonial Athletic Association First Team selection, tops the team with 17.5 points per game. Brie Mobley contributes 10.4 ppg, while Ryan Flowers grabs a squad-best 6.2 rebounds per outing.

The 49ers captured a win in Wilmington last year to extend their series lead to 13-5, including four victories in the last five meetings.

Josh Feldman returns to the broadcast table to handle the play-by-play call on the live video stream through Charlotte49ers.com. Live stats are also linked through the website, while updates can be found on Twitter by following @49erGameDay.